the obama campaign is also down playing expectations. they say he hasn't had enough time to prepare for the debate because he's been so busy as president dealing with a series of crises in the middle east. >> chip reid in boston. thanks. >>> for more on campaign 2012, we turn to jonathan allen, a senior political correspondent from politico. jonathan, good morning to you. >> good morning, rebecca. >> i want to begin where chip left off. the president's advisors say he's been so busy dealing with international affairs coming into the debate he hasn't had a chance to prepare. some of the tlmts coming out of these international affairs, the administration's stance, for example, on what exactly happened in benghazi has recently changed. i wonder how that might impact this debate. >> i would be shocked if there wasn't some questioning from that either from the moderators or at least perhaps some attention drawn to it by mitt romney. this is a huge issue for the president, is his policy working in north africa, in the middle east? what happene